Monday, February 29, 2016

EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS AT MILL VILLAGE AND CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP OF CORTLAND WATER WORKS

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, September
25, 1891.

Extensive Improvements.

Legislative
enactment two years ago permitted Homer to extend her corporate boundaries
southward into the town of Cortlandville and embrace a narrow strip of
territory formerly known as Mill Village. For what purpose it is not the intent
of this article to state. Situate [sic] in this annex to our sister village are
several manufacturing interests which appear upon the tax list of the town of
Cortlandville, prominent being the old stone building for years styled
"Cortland Co. Superior Mills" but which, since passing into the hands
of James A. Tisdale, has been subjected to transformations until it stands
second to none of the flouring mills in the State, the roller process being
adopted several years since.

At an
expense of $2,000 the work of reconstructing the flume has just been completed.
A new 56-inch LeFell double-wheel supplants the set of five turbines formerly
under the mill; the old discharge arch has been built up and a dry basement for
storage is the result. By the new arrangement a great saving of water and
increase of power is secured. From the top of the masonry to the bottom of the flume
is a distance of eighteen feet, numerous iron bars and heavy timbers covered
with plank serve as the bottom of the race way, underneath which is an open
space of five feet for accommodating the water discharged through the wheel.
The entire work is a marvel of millwright engineering and results from Mr.
Tisdale's untiring study to maintain the output of his mill in keeping with the
demand. It will repay any one to visit the surroundings and note the constant
improvements.

Straightening Crooked Places.

There is
some comment up in the second ward over the location of a line of stakes set by
the civil engineer from the intersection of Arthur and Homer avenues northward
toward the Cortland Corset company [later Gillette Skirt Co., Miller Street--CC editor.] Said line of markers are upon the inside of
the east walk and at so great a distance as seven feet from the walk now down.
Even Graham's blacksmith shop extends some four feet beyond this survey line
into the street as held by the officials. Notices have been served upon the
owners of the above mentioned section to build new walks. This inside survey
has interrupted the compliance with the order to say nothing of disturbing the
humor of those so notified.

In
conversation with members of the village board it was stated that where new walks—cross
or side—were required to be rebuilt or new ones constructed they must be on the
line of the street limit. In regard to the Homer avenue changes the same
authority alleges that after searching the records and surveys of the Homer
town clerk's office back to the period when that township embraced the present
town of Cortlandville, it is clearly shown that the street limits in question
had not been properly placed by former inhabitants, and it is now proposed to
erect the walks on the proper line. The foot bridge upon said Homer avenue has
already been moved eastward and relaid, and some preparation begun for
completing the work.

Sad Death in Homer.

"Save my baby!" were
the last words uttered by Mrs. Frank McCormack at her pleasant home on Maple
avenue, Homer, last Sunday evening. Mrs. McCormack rose from a chair with the
intention of crossing the room, carrying her infant child in her arms. Whether
she tripped on the carpeting or some obstruction is not definitely known. The
lady fell striking her face squarely against the projecting door stop. Death
was almost instant—only a few gasps for breath following the accident, and an
examination disclosed the cause to be concussion of the brain. Deceased was but twenty-five years of age and
highly respected in the village of Homer. The funeral services were conducted by
the Rev. William A. Robinson, Tuesday afternoon. The child was quite seriously injured
by the fall.

Died Suddenly.

D. B.
Card, a well-to-do farmer, who resided in Dryden, was one of the exhibitors of
live stock at the county fair. On Thursday he felt ill and at about three o'clock
he sought the office of Dr. Besemer who was his physician. He stated his case and
as the doctor turned to prepare some medicine, he heard Mr. Card gasp once or
twice; before the doctor reached him he fell to the floor dead. Coroner Brown
was called who took charge of the valuables on his person, and messengers were
sent to search for his family. The deceased was subject to heart disease.—Ithaca
Dem.,Sept. 17.

Death of a Veteran.

Sergeant
Albert W. Pierce of Truxton, who was a member of Co. F., 185th N. Y. Vols.,
died at the home of his brother Frank, on Park street in this village, last Sunday morning. While in the army he contracted a
disease from which he never fully recovered and from the effects of which he
had been unable to labor for the past two years. He was a genial gentleman and
had many friends who will sincerely mourn his death. The remains were taken to
Truxton where the funeral services were held on Tuesday.

Twenty-sixth Annual Reunion.

Saturday
last was the occasion of the twenty-sixth annual reunion of the 157th regiment
of N. Y. S. Volunteers, which regiment made itself famous on the field of
strife in the late war. The reunion was held at Smyrna, Chenango county, and
the citizens of that attractive village vied with one another to extend a
hearty welcome to the visiting veterans. Excellent band and vocal music was
profusely intermingled with the supreme joy of the day.

A
business meeting was held in the [Cortland] Opera House where one hundred
responses were made to the roll call. Six deaths were reported during the year
past. A resolution committee thoughtfully framed a touching clause relative to
the kind act of Mrs. J. C. Carmichael who had presented each survivor with a
neatly bound biography of her deceased husband—the head of the regiment while
at the front.

Following
the business meeting refreshments were served at the Messenger House and
parlors of the M. E. church by the Smyrna Post, G. A. R., followed by a list of
toasts and camp-fire. Col. Frank Place of Cortland was awarded the honor of toastmaster.
The day's festivities happily concluded with a parade through the principal streets.

Hamilton,
Madison county, was chosen as the place for the reunion of 1891.

Old Soldiers' Evening.

The
Methodist ministers of the Central New York Conference who served in the army
during the late war have organized an association, called the "Veteran's Union," and will hold their first anniversary
in the 1st M. E. church on Tuesday evening, Sept. 29th, at 7:30 o'clock. I
enclose the programme. Grover Post, No. 87, G. A. R; Grover Relief Corps, No. 96 and James
H. Kellogg Camp, No. 48, Sons of Veterans, have accepted an invitation to be
present. All old soldiers and sailors cordially invited to come. Prof.
Clements, the principal speaker of the evening, lost a leg upon the battlefield
of the Wilderness, about which battle he is to lecture.

H. M. K.
[H. M. Kellogg]

Will Open November 1.

"The
new factory at Tallapoosa, Ga., is built," said a member of the Hitchcock Manufacturing
Company to a DEMOCRAT reporter last Monday. "A new two hundred horse power
boiler and an engine of the same capacity have been purchased and are to be
shipped to the new plant during the present week." In response to the query
as to whether the machinery in the Cortland works were to be shipped to
Tallapoosa, the same gentleman said: "A
portion of the machinery in the wood working department will be removed in time
for the opening of the southern factory which will be as soon as November first.

The local manufactory have well under way
about 5,000 cutter woods, which will be completed and put upon the market this
season. The smiths are busy forming the irons for the same this week and a
general air of activity pervades the works.

It
is a Model School.

Did it ever occur to the parents of this village
that the little boy or girl over three years of age could be instructed as well
as entertained by collections of toys? A visit to the Kindergarten and first
primary departments of Miss Ormsby's preparatory school on Court street, will
conclusively prove that much good is the result of this enterprise and it is
the wish of the able corps of teachers as well as the principal, that parents
should visit the school during its daily sessions.

Miss Clara Hurd is instructor of the
Kindergarten department giving special attention to singing, drawing, modeling
and gymnastics. The card system is instructive and pleasing to the child and
the interest they take in perforating and forming characters with various
colors is very noticeable.

Miss Minnie Brownell has been engaged to
instruct the first Primary or graduates from the Kindergarten, and the interest
exhibited by the pupils shows the value of this addition to the school. Miss
Ella Lobdell, second Primary and Miss Ormsby Intermediate, complete the
faculty.

The Normal course in vocal music and Prang's
system of drawing are taught throughout the school and from observation the DEMOCRAT
recommends parents who are battling with the question of schools, to call and
become acquainted with the advantages offered by this school before the few
remaining seats are taken.

Cortland
Water Works.

Public
attention is directed to the fact that the water service on Port Watson street
will be shut off this (Friday) forenoon to permit of placing a four inch main to
supply the new works of the Box Loop Company with water for fire purposes. It will
also be interesting to the DEMOCRAT'S readers to learn that the controlling interest
of the Cortland Water Works Co. passed from the hands of Messrs. Moffett, Hodgkins
& Clark of Syracuse, into that of Hon. L. J. Fitzgerald and Benjamin F. Taylor
of Cortland, yesterday. This transaction places the entire stock of the Company
in the hands of Cortland capitalists where for years it has been contended it should
be owned. Under the new management extensive improvements are to be promptly
effected and the well known business activity of the two above mentioned gentlemen
of Cortland is a guarantee that nothing will be spared to make the service first-class
and the good results of Mr. Taylor's past record as president will be rewarded by
greater confidence in Cortland's water supply system and an increase of consumption.